New Delhi: Major ruckus broke out when Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee visited Thakurnagar in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas on Sunday. According to a report by news agency PTI, ahead of Banerjee’s visit, supporters of Union Minister of State of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakur and leaders of the Matua Mahasangh waved a black flag and hurled slogans asking him to ‘go back’.
The TMC leader accused the Bongaon’s BJP MP of appeasing his party bosses in Delhi and said that he has forgotten the work done by Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee for the welfare of the Matuas.
As a mark of their protest, the Matua Mahasangh leaders also closed the Thakurbari Temple ahead of Abhishek Banerjee’s visit.
Speaking on the chaos, Banerjee said he could have forced his entry with his supporters but he wanted to avoid any clash. “The Harichand Thakur temple has been desecrated by Santanu Thakur and his cronies. Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) jawans assaulted women devotees who had come to visit the shrine while throwing out the common people out of the compound,” PTI quoted Abhishek Banerjee as saying.
“My political campaign was in Habra, around 20 km away from Thakurnagar. Today will be remembered as a black day in the history of Bongaon,” he added.
Meanwhile, reacting on the incident, West Bengal Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said Abhishek Banerjee tried to go in on the basis of power and it was commendable that the Matua community opposed it.
“This is a dangerous step. He attempted to go in on the basis of his power. This is not right. As an MP, he should have first sought permission from Thakurbari and sent a letter. He should have gone without a flag, as is the practice at Thakurbari…Hats off to the community that they opposed this openly,” news agency ANI quoted Adhikari as saying.
#WATCH | West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari speaks on ruckus outside Thakurbari temple over TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee’s visit; says, “This is a dangerous step. He attempted to go in on the basis of his power. This is not right. As an MP, he should have first sought permission… pic.twitter.com/5mDLo7jjhR
— ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2023
“TMC goons have attacked the Holy Shree Dham temple of the Matua community in front of police. I request the Hon’ble Union Home Minister Shri @Amit Shah Ji and @HMOIndia to kindly intervene urgently and provide protection to the members and office-bearers of the Matua organisation,” he had earlier tweeted.
Reacting to Abhishek Banerjee’s charges, Thakur told reporters, “Abhishek Banerjee had brought in goons to foment trouble but he was thwarted by members of the Matua community. He has actually made the soil of Thakurnagar impure by his visit and we will purify it after he leaves.”